Movie review: Surgeon aka. Exquisite Tenderness

As a child, Julian witnesses the death of his brother at the hands of an inept and sadistic doctor and grows up to become a psychotic doctor who somehow justifies his killing of innocent people to further his research. Years later his girlfriend, Theresa has him fired for his illegal research and thinks that is the end. But Julian returns, more psychotic than ever and determined to make Theresa pay for what she has done to him.

Isabel Glasser (Dr. Theresa), James Remar (Dr. Benjamin), Sean Haberle (Dr. Julian Matar), Malcolm McDowell (Dr. Stein), Peter Boyle (Lt. McEllwaine).

Although the summary sounds good, I would place this one about the middle of the pack when it comes to horror / thrillers. Incidentally, the picture on the cover is nowhere to be found in the film. The plot was interesting if not wholly original but it just wasn’t delivered very well. The movie seemed jerky, with bursts of activity and plot advancement followed by a lull in which nothing very exciting happened. Toward the end of the movie Dr. Julian seemed to become almost supernatural, being stronger than everyone else, able to heal himself from critical injury, being smarter and more stealthy than anyone else, and getting lucky beyond belief. It was almost as if the plot got written into a corner and the only way out was to change the rules at the last second.

Acting was a mixed bag with Remar and Haberle doing a decent job and Glasser being just plain annoying and inept after a while. Camera work and sets were average as was sound and dialogue.

You could do worse than this one but you could also do much better.

There was some nudity in this one, foul language, and a healthy dose of violent gore. Save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 1995
Reviewed: 7.21.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi Horror, Horror, Slashers and Serial Killers, Thriller

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Herbie Hancock: Possibilities

Made in a somewhat documentary style, this film takes you behind the scenes with Herbie Hancock while he collaborates with Christina Aguilera, Sting, Annie Lennox, Paul Simon, Santana, Damien Rice and John Mayer.

I have been hearing and seeing a lot of Herbie Hancock credits lately so I was interested when I ran across this film. It was interesting hearing in his words how collaboration works with different artists and even more enjoyable to see it happening.  I particularly enjoyed the part with John Mayer and came away with more respect for his creative talents. I was also very surprised at Christina Aguilera’s vocal capabilities. I was a bit disappointed with Sting in this one as I am a big fan but the type of music he was making just wasn’t to my tastes.

Some of the shots in this one are pretty dark which was a bit frustrating but otherwise it was technically well done.

If you are a Herbie Hancock fan I would say this is a must see, very informative and enjoyable to watch.

Released: 2005
Reviewed: 7.20.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Music, Documentary

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Kama-Sutra: The Secrets to the Art of Love

This is an instructional video covering 50 different positions and is intended as a primer on the erotic Indian arts. Channeling sexual energy and intimacy to bring couples together, achieve higher levels of orgasm, and inner peace are the goals here.

This is much better done than many Kama-Sutra instructional materials I have seen before. Positions are presented by a man and woman in a modest bedroom setting and video is most often rotating to show the complete position. This was much better than illustrations I have seen where you only get one perspective and it is hard to understand the complete position.

Audio includes a brief description of the position and information regarding the level of physical ability required for the position, which partner will benefit from more pronounced stimulation in the position, if it helps delay male orgasm or provides for quicker female orgasm, and if there are any dangers or tips for success of the position.

This was also a nice balance between true instructional video and pornography. The actors were nude obviously, but there was also fondling and touching evoking nice emotion of events but falling short of becoming porn. Music was good in parts but became a bit repetitive after a while.

Overall this was a nicely done video and well worth watching by anyone interested in learning the erotic arts or as a good refresher on some of the basics.

Released: 2006
Reviewed: 7.20.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Documentary

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Rest Stop: Don’t Look Back

Nicole and Jess set out for California a year ago and were never heard from again. When Jess’s brother Tom returns from Iraq he sets out along with his girlfriend Marilyn, and best friend Jared, to find them. Instead they find the Rest Stop and the same psychotic madman who may have also killed Jessie and Nicole.

Movie review: Rest Stop: Don’t Look Back – 2008
Richard Tillman (Tom), Jessie Ward (Marilyn), Graham Norris (Jared), Joey Mendicino (Jessie), Julie Mond (Nicole), Brionne Davis (Driver), Steve Railsback (Owner).

This one kicks off with some good horror action which at the same time gives us some background and basis for the rest of the movie. Things then slow down for a bit as the rest of the cast is developed before jumping back into the twisted story. I don’t like comparing episodes in a series but I will here because this one felt like a cheat. The original was about terror and horror whereas this one delved into the supernatural in what looks to be nothing more than an attempt to continue the story. I would guess they made enough money off the first film they felt it was worth continuing but had written themselves into a corner. Poof, use ghosts! Problem solved. It felt like this story was forced in an effort to continue the original and sadly it added nothing to the original story. The film felt more like a re-telling of the original with different characters and perspective with the supernatural slant necessary only to maintain continuity with the series.

Acting was pretty good with Ward and Norris both putting out great effort. Railsback does a great job of being freaky and creepy and I loved him in this role. Camera work, sound, dialogue, background and effects were all well done. Gore shots were pretty good with a great Squeamish Factor at points.

Plot was a bit disjointed at times but overall the story can be followed easily. Overall a decent horror flick but a disappointment compared to the original. Put this about the middle of your Must See list.

Brief mild nudity, foul language, violence, blood, and gore so save this one for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 7.20.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Teen Screams, Horror, Slashers and Serial Killers, Thriller, Supernatural Horror

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Mulholland Falls

A special LAPD police squad led by Max Hoover investigates the murder of a young woman, Allison, who had an affair with Hoover and Timms, the head of the nuclear agency. When the murder investigation leads to the military and causes questions about national security, the LAPD ends up with more than a simple murder on their hands.

Nick Nolte (Max Hoover), Melanie Griffith (Katherine Hoover), Chazz Palminteri (Ellroy Coolidge), Michael Madsen (Eddie Hall), Chris Penn (Arthur), Treat Williams (Col. Fitzgerald), Jennifer Connelly (Allison Pond), Daniel Baldwin (McCafferty), Andrew McCarthy (Jimmy Fields), John Malkovich (General Timms).

I was actually surprised by this one and enjoyed the film. The plot is a bit cliché and predictable but a few twists kept it interesting. There was some good mystery to the film, decent action scenes, drama, sex, and good old fashioned violence with saps.

Nolte was much better in this one than I expected and Palminteri did a great job. I thought most of the acting in this one was well done.

Sets, effects and sound were all nicely done. Dialogue was a bit lacking in parts and Nolte’s mumbling low rough voice was difficult to hear at times.

If you enjoy a good cop flick, or 50’s themed movies you will most likely really enjoy this one.

Beware the nudity, sex scenes, violence and language and keep this one for the oldest of teens and above.

Released: 1996
Reviewed: 7.17.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Thrillers, Crime Drama, Crime Thriller

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: The Hateful Eight

Bounty hunter John is delivering Daisy Domergue for hanging when the two become stranded, along with six others, at a post-Civil War haberdashery in Wyoming.  But the strange characters are only the beginning of a nefarious plot.

Samuel L. Jackson (Maj. Warren), Kurt Russell (John), Jennifer Leigh (Daisy Domergue), Walton Goggins (Sheriff Mannix), Demian Bichir (Bob), Tim Roth (Oswaldo), Michael Madsen (Gage), Bruce Dern (Gen. Smithers), James Parks (O.B.).

As usual Quentin Tarantino takes an unusual approach to storytelling and The Hateful Eight is no exception. Presented in chapters, out of order of course, the film does a wonderful job of making promises on which it really never delivers. While the story was good, it might well have been just as good in order. The plot is entertaining but stews together quite slowly and as often the case in Tarantino films, includes plenty of graphic violence and gore. The final chapter ties things together well but overall is something of a non-event after almost 3 hours of build-up.

Acting, as it should be with a cast like this, was wonderful. Leigh did a great job, delivering a range of emotion and quirky mentality that fit the film perfectly. Jackson was entertaining as usual and did nicely. Russell was in-type and contributed well, as did Roth and Madsen. Goggins was another enjoyable bright spot with very good energy. The remainder of the cast was solid and did quite well.

Camera work was enjoyable with the 70mm picture being consistently clear and crisp. Sets and backgrounds while somewhat simple were enjoyable and well done. Action scenes were intense and well executed. Dialogue was campy at times but solid with some nice touches of humor. Sound and soundtrack were good.

Overall The Hateful Eight is an interesting and entertaining western that Tarentino fans will likely enjoy more than most. Those who enjoy an intense western should enjoy this as well, though they may be frustrated with the storytelling approach.

With plenty of violence, gore, foul language, explicit nudity, and sexuality, save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 7.17.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Westerns, Crime Action, Action & Adventure, Crime Drama

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Firewall

Jack has built a great life as a bank security consultant, protecting the bank and his life behind a firewall he has built. But when criminals abduct his family he is forced to circumvent his own security protections and rob the bank he is protecting.

Harrison Ford (Jack), Virginia Madsen (Beth), Carly Schroeder (Sarah), Jimmy Bennett (Andy), Paul Bettany (Bill), David Lewis (Rich), Zahf Paroo (Ravi), Robert Forster (Harry), Robert Patrick (Gary), Alan Arkin (Arlin).

Firewall begins with some nice backstory and character development before moving to the main plot. Once the criminals show up and abduct Jack's family, the action and suspense begin to build fast as Jack watches his life fall apart. It seems no matter what Jack tries, the bad guys are a step ahead. On the run from just about everyone, and with nothing to lose, Jack begins to fight back and the film intensity increases nicely. The story wraps up with a Happily Ever After ending that, after all the intense action and suspense, is almost a non-event.

Acting was good with Ford doing nicely as a corporate action hero. Madsen was a nice choice and seemed to work well with Ford. Bettany made a good criminal, and also seemed to have good chemistry with others. Forster and Patrick were both in-type and fit their roles well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were enjoyable with a nice authentic feel throughout. Natural scenery and locations were used well. Action scenes were pretty good with a realistic feel and good detail. Dialogue was solid and moved the story along well. Sound and soundtrack were a bit better than usual.

While Firewall is 10 years old, and the storyline is hardly original, this one is still worth watching. The experienced cast does a good job and technical work is on par for a big budget film. If you enjoy solid suspense or thrillers, you should enjoy Firewall.

With plenty of violence, some blood and gore, blender abuse, foul language and potentially disturbing scenes, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2006
Reviewed: 7.11.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Action, Suspense, Crime Thriller

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel